Omaha daily bee., 1887-12-30
DRIVEN BLIND AND INSANE.
Hours of Suffering For n shipwrcckcd
Crew.

New York Times: Three feeble and
suffering survivors out Of crew of five
hearty men who sailed the schooner ID.
and Il. Kelley out OF Norfolk harbor last
Friday were brought into port yesterday
by the Norwegian steamer Oden, Cap
tain Define, from Port de Paix. Two of
the survivors we're colored men-Jobn
w. Coleman and Frank Taylor. Their
legs were badly swollen, and they had
not yet sufficiently recovered from the
effects of their trying experience TO be
ou their feet. The third survivor was
the mate. David B. Campbell, who, al
is about again.
The d. and e. Kelley, it seemed, had
q cargo of lumber on board for New
Haven. Captain w. G. Taylor, an ex-
perienced skipper of Providence, was in
command. On Saturday afternoon,
when the vessel was twelve miles east
Of Phoenix island, u heavy squall came
up, and Captain Taylor headed for the
Delaware breakwater. Soon afterward
the wind shifted ahead, and in order to
avoid going ashore it was necessary to
put about and head out to sea. At 6
o'clock in the evening, during n terrific
snow squall, the decklod shifted and
the schooner was thrown on her star
into the port main chains, where they
clung for life, while the vessel drifted
through the binding snow toward the
shore, where she struck at IL o'clock.
A sea then washed over the port side,
where the crew clung. The steward, a
young colored man who had been
shipped at Norfolk, relaxed his hold
and was swept away. For an instant he
was seen struggling. then a furry of
snow swept over him, and when the
wild whirl had passed away he had dis
appeared.
Soon afterward the deckload went
overheard, carrying with it the main
mast. After being relieved of this load
the schooner slowly righted, and at
midnight the four survivors crawled on
to the quarter deck. The cabin had
been swept away and the forward part
of the vessel was completely under
water. At 4 o'clock in the morning the
wind changed TO westward and the
wreck floated off and drlfted out to sea.
When the eastern sky grew bright and
the stormy waves began to assume dis
tinct forms, the survivors began an
anxious days watch. Their supplies
had been washed away, and the pangs
of thirst and hunger were added to the
sum of their misery. Dusk found them
still watching and hoping for the sue
cor which came not. The mate passed
the gloomy watches Of the stormy night
in looking for the lights Of some passing g
vessel. The two colored men forgot
thirst, hunger and exposure for the
time in sleep.
Soon after midnight Captain Taylor
started up and cried out that he could
not see. His sufferings had resulted in
blindness. Then his mind began to
wander. 81 cannot see!" he cried, 81 am
thirsty and hungry! Have some one
take me to a hotel!" Then he reached
out his hands and CROPPED for some one
| to lead him. The mate finally induced
him to sit down on the deck. He made
few incoherant remarks and then
sank back, and his sense of suffering
| gave way TO the peaceful calm of death.
A moment later the body of the poor old
captain was washed overheard. AT 8
| o'clock the next afternoon the survivors
were picked up by the Oden, on board
of which they were treated with every
| kindness.